Whether it’s a tiny dining room, small living room, or limited space in the bedroom, space is an important factor in design. Limited space can present unique challenges for furniture and storage. But there are a few tried and true methods to maximize your space. Here are a few tips on designing for small spaces.

Small, round tables aren't just for breakfast nooks or eat-in kitchens. Look past the giant dining table and give yourself some extra space by opting for a small, round dining table instead. Something like the Tuscan Dining Set is perfect for limited space. A table with folding leaves is also a great option.

Daybeds can also be a major space saver in the bedroom. It’s great for a young adult just striking out on her own. A daybed in a studio apartment serves as sofa and bed, saving money and space. Also, it works well in a bedroom with limited space. Adding a daybed can double floor space in an instant!

If you have a small living space that serves as your kitchen, dining room, and living room all in one, create zones for each use. Use rugs of different textures and shapes to define your living area and dining areas. Make sure your kitchen storage stays in the kitchen area. There is no need to have the zones bleed over into one another. 

Not only do ottomans serve as a place to put your feet up and add extra seating, but some also act as storage. Ottomans can be tucked out of the way when not in use and pulled up to the TV for football games. Look for ottomans that can serve as storage as well. These typically open from the top and offer ample place to store blankets, games, and toys.

Want the best of both worlds? Enjoy laying on a sofa and putting your feet up on a recliner? A reclining sofa is the perfect compromise for a small space. The Legacy Reclining Sofa only takes up the space of a typical sofa but adds the versatility of two recliners.

It may seem odd, but a few large pieces of furniture can actually make a space look bigger than a lot of small pieces. A great place to try this design technique is in the bedroom. A bed like the Amarillo King Bed will fill your space without adding clutter. Pair it with small side tables!

Utilize the space above your eyeline. Go up with tall storage options. A vertical bookcase, like the one from Grove, is tall and thin. It won’t take up much floor space but will utilize the space near the ceiling. Pieces like this also bring the eyes up, making smaller dimensions look more spacious.

It may take a bit of creativity, but you can make your small spaces feel special and cozy. Just look for furniture pieces with a minimal footprint and maximum potential!          

December 1^st will be a big day for Drake Hulin and for Home Furniture. The Distribution Center Receiving Manager will be running in the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis. It’s a huge undertaking, but Drake has found ample support among his Home Furniture family.

“The marathon actually falls at a busy time of year for us,” explains Drake. “But when I told them what I wanted to do, they told me not to worry about it. They want me to run, and every manager has been very supportive.”

St. Jude is a cause close to many hearts in the Home Furniture family. In the past two years the company has donated nearly $40,000 to the cause. Home Furniture has participated in “Give Thanks, Give Hope” campaign for St. Jude since 2017, so it seemed only natural to support one of their own while he worked to meet his marathon goal.

“I’ve had so many fellow employees come talk to me about it. It’s so awesome to have their support,” says Drake. “They want to know how my training is coming along; it’s been great.”

Drake has been running for the past 3 years, mostly 5Ks, 10Ks, and a half-marathon, but the St. Jude Marathon will be his first full marathon. He’s been training every day before and after work. Working in a warehouse in the Louisiana heat hasn’t kept him from his goal. Drake thinks the marathon will be a challenge, but one he’s been looking forward to for a long time.

“The marathon route actually goes in front of the St. Jude Hospital,” explains Drake. “They actually let the kids that are able to go outside come and cheer you on. I’m looking forward to that for sure.”

His wife and two children will also be present to cheer him on. He says his family is thrilled he’s decided to take up this challenge for such a special cause. The St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend is the single largest one-day fundraising event for St. Jude. The fundraising efforts of runners like Drake will help ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.

“I don’t have a direct personal connection to St. Jude, but it’s just such a fantastic cause. This seemed like the perfect place to compete in a marathon.”

Drake will have the full support of his family at home, his family at work, and the community of St. Jude when he starts the marathon on the December 1^st. There is no doubt they will all be cheering when he crosses the finish line.

Having small children in the house doesn’t mean you are sentenced to years of ugly cushion stains and slipcovers. Your space has to work for every member of your family. Trying to maintain a “magazine quality” home with two toddlers is virtually impossible. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a lovely space. The trick lies in your furniture choices.

In the Kitchen

Kids, big or small, spend a lot of time in the kitchen. It’s important to make choices that will let them feel comfortable and safe. Small tables are perfect for eat-in kitchens and toddlers. Save your dining room from the big messes! A round table is great for minimizing bumps and bruises on corners. Also, bench seating is perfect for kids to pile together at meal time.

If you have a high counter top or an island, you may also want to consider the types of stools you choose. A sturdy barstool, that doesn’t swivel or have a fabric seat is your best choice. It makes clean up a breeze, and kids can climb on and off easily.

In the Living Room

Almost every parent has had the experience of watching their toddler fall on, or near-miss, the corner of a coffee table. It’s not the best idea to have sharp edges or pointed objects scattered throughout your living room.

In order to create a safer environment for small children, consider using a round option. That way your little ones can run around without the corners catching their heads. You can also opt for an upholstered ottoman that serves as an extra seat and one less hard surface.

Kids have a way of creating messes out of thin air. Your living room furniture will have to pull double duty, serving as stylish elements while also working as storage. Ottomans typically open from the top and offer ample space to store blankets, games, and toys. If you have the space, get a few of them and add lots of extra seating and storage. You can also look for a Coffee Table that offers extra space inside. Some slide open while others offer cabinet style doors. These tables can offer a convenient place to stow all sorts of items that may pile up in the living room.

The Kids’ Bedroom

Once your children move from the crib to a “big kid” bed, the options are endless. If you have kids sharing a room, bunkbeds are a natural choice. They are wonderful for added storage and for a room shared by kids with an age gap. If your child has their own room, consider a full bed that will grow with them. A daybed is also a great option for sleepovers and overnight guests. Daybeds can also be a real space saver if your child’s room is on the small side. Plus, you don’t have to worry about an adventurous toddler jumping from the top bunk.

Make choices in every room that will let your child relax and be rambunctious while still maintaining the overall look and feel of your home. It might take a little more forethought, but a happy home is worth it!

You spend one third of your life sleeping, so if back pain is keeping you awake, your mattress has got to go. Studies indicate that night and morning back pain are tied to the type of mattress you have, your sleeping position, and proper support of your body. Having the right mattress will minimize your pain and maximize your rest.

Proper Alignment

You want the mattress to hold you in proper alignment from head to toe. You need the mattress to push up on your body to counteract your body weight. Now, that does not mean getting a super hard or firm mattress. Your body isn’t a straight line; it has curves, so a mattress must contour to support the curves and arches of your body. The Serta iComfort Blue Max is designed for gentle yet firm support and will hug the curves of your body.

A supportive mattress will dip down around your shoulders and hips, yet keep your spine in proper alignment. If a mattress is too firm, your hips and shoulders will be pushed up and you will wake up feeling stiff. The same issues can occur if a mattress is too soft. You want a mattress to contour to the shape of your body to hold it in its neutral alignment.

Avoiding Pressure

You don’t want the mattress to cause pressure to your body, causing painful points along your back. If a mattress is too hard, it can cause pressure that cuts off circulation and pinches nerves and will cause you to change positions throughout the night. The American Bedding mattress features a medium firm feel with a quilted foam cover and 2 inches of gel-infused layering. It’s designed for comfort for those looking for a firmer feel.

Sleeping Positions

Side Sleepers

Most side sleepers enjoy the fetal position with their arms and legs bent and curled in towards the body, and the spine is gently curved. This is the most common of all sleep positions, and it is often said to cause back pain or long-term back problems. This is partially true, but it is nothing a good mattress can’t correct.

Since this position is significantly curvier than others, pressure relief is vitally important. You do not want your shoulders and hips to take the strain every day for an extended amount of time. To allow your body to sink into the mattress, a softer and thicker comfort layer is needed. In most cases, the average side sleeper needs a comfort layer that is about 3 inches thick.

Back Sleepers

Sleeping on your back with your arms at your sides is said to be the best position, but it’s the least common. The recessed space in the lumbar area is really the only major gap created when you sleep on your back. A thinner top layer actually works best. Most back sleepers are satisfied by a 2-inch comfort layer

Stomach Sleepers

This is probably the least advantageous of the sleeping positions, from the stand point of back pain. If this is what makes you comfortable and is the only way you can fall asleep, then buying the right mattress can help minimize the negative effects.

The last thing a stomach sleeper needs is a soft or thick comfort layer because there are little to no recessed areas to support. Plus, if you sleep on a softer surface on your stomach you are likely to hyperextend the lumbar area. Firm, thin comfort layers are ideal. There can be an inch of softness to provide cushioning to bony areas, but the firmness should be met by the body to avoid creating an unnatural backwards curve of the back. You will also want to take special care when choosing a pillow if you sleep on your stomach. The right pillow can minimize neck strain.

Testing the Mattress

When you’re trying out the mattress, you should be able to lie in one position without moving around for at least a few minutes. If you can do that, you’ve found a good mattress.

Home Furniture is focused on continued community support for all of its locations. The greater Baton Rouge area is no exception. Throughout each year, employees donate their time and money to Pat's Coats for Kids and are proud to be a sponsor.

“This is something we gladly do every year,” says Larry Williams, manager of the Home Furniture location in Baton Rouge. “We’ve been involved for over a decade and always give a monetary donation.”

For every $20 donated, a new, high-quality coat is provided for a child in need in the capital area. It’s all part of the Pat’s Coats for Kids drive which buys coats for kids in parishes including Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana, as well as Charter Schools of Baton Rouge.

WBRZ is hosting the annual Pat’s Coats for Kids coat drive now through Wednesday, November 21, 2018.

“We appear on WBRZ to present our check and try to inspire other businesses to do the same,” says Larry.

For the past 30 years, Pat’s Coats for Kids and the Baton Rouge community have distributed more than 250,000 coats to meet the challenge of keeping the children in our area warm during cold winter months.

Larry says it’s not just the Baton Rouge business community that can help, everyone is welcome to donate. For more information on drop off locations, follow this link.

“They are no different. God planted my soul in my mom and I was born here in the land of privilege. God planted their soul over there, that’s where they live and that’s what they know. We are just so fortunate, but they are no different from us.”

Lori Berwick left for Haiti on October 12, and spent a week with other people from Louisiana hoping to make a difference in the Port Au Prince region. She was part of a group traveling with Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. This was her second trip to Haiti, her first was a mission trip in 2017.

“I was on the medical team this time, I took vital signs then passed them off to the doctor. Then after they saw the doctor we’d see to it they got vitamins and any medication they need,” she said.

There was a special woman that stuck out to her on this trip. A new mother who came in with her 22-day old baby. The woman was very ill and the child was only 5lbs, but Lori, her team, and charitable Haitians were able to get the new mother the help she needed.

“She came in and could barely walk, it was decided she needed to go to the hospital. We took up a donation from all of the people there so we could get her taken to a hospital,” said Lori. “We were told after the fact that if she had not gone to the hospital that day she would not have survived much longer.”

They were able to check on her the next day and the woman was much improved. A highlight of the 2017 trip turned out to also be a highlight of this experience. Louisiana Reach Haiti has been working for quite some time to build an orphanage. They’ve been fundraising for a while. Last year there was only a wall around the property and a well. This year Lori got to be there for the opening celebration.

“We got to be there for the ribbon cutting, that was really neat,” Lori explained. “One of the members on our team was very excited because it had an indoor bathroom and most orphanages there do not have indoor bathrooms.”

She said the ceremony was touching and they’ve already started housing children. Lori explained that if you want to donate you can go to the Louisiana Reach Haiti website.

“Before the ceremony it wasn’t raining or anything, yet there was a rainbow.”

 Lori said the children were grateful and excited for their new home. She even got to see a familiar face from her mission work last year.

“Kwisno was there, I could see the recognition in his face and we held each other’s hands. But he’s 14 now, and the people over there are just people like us, so 14-year-olds over there are also too cool to get too excited.”

Lori manages the accounting department at the Home Furniture location in Lake Charles and has been with the company for 24 years. She says her coworkers have been incredibly supportive of her mission work, and will continue to support her when she leaves for Haiti again next year. She’s planning to go on a third mission trip to the area in October of 2019.

However, there’s more to recliners than just kicking your feet up. What’s the best type of material? Oversized or Sleek? Power? Glider? Swivel? There are many options to consider. Here’s what you need to know before making the purchase.

Upholstery

One of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make when choosing a recliner is whether to go with leather, microfiber, or fabric. It will likely have much to do with what type of furniture is already found in your living room. A casual, contemporary oversized recliner might look a little out of place in a more traditional or formal living room. Match the style of the recliner to the style of furniture currently in the living space.

If you are starting from scratch, you’ll have to consider your lifestyle. The most popular choice is leather. Leather is durable, easy to clean, and a bit pricey. It’s also easy to scratch, so if you have pets, you may want to take special care. Microfiber is also very popular. It can mimic the look of leather or suede, is easy to care for, and is less expensive than real leather. It’s a great choice for homes with pets and children. Fabric is also another option. It cleans up well and offers endless patterns and color options.

Traditional, Rocker or Push-back

The traditional recliner is a two-position chair, either sitting straight up or reclined. The person sitting is required to pull a lever or press a button to create the motion. A rocking recliner combines the rocking motion of a rocking chair with the functionality of a recliner. It also comes in glider and swivel options. A push-back chair reclines without a switch or button. The person simply uses their own weight to push the back of the seat into a reclining position.

Size

Depending on the size of your living room and the size of the person who will be using the recliner the most, there are multiple size options available. The majority of people are looking for a single-person recliner, but sofa and love seat recliners are also available. Some love the look of a smaller, sleek model, while others want the feel of an oversized recliner with pillow-like cushions. It’s a good idea to test a few out in the store before committing to a size.

Keep in mind that the standard recliner needs approximately six inches of space from chair back to wall to fully recline. Even if you purchase a smaller recliner, plan on giving it a bit of space.

Nice Touches

Many recliners are available with extra features including built-in cup holders, power lift, storage, and much more.

Expect to pay around $275 to $350 for a basic recliner and up to almost $1200 for one with all the bells and whistles. However, there are lots of amazing options in between those price points. Do your research, test a few out, then make your decision.

Most families struggle to make time for one another. Kids have countless activities ranging from sports to school to parties. Parents often work long hours in an office, then they have to keep the household running after hours. Finding time together as a family is difficult, but family night doesn’t have to be a scheduled evening. Just coming together to watch a movie or eat dinner can help the family unit stay together. Your furniture choices can go a long way in helping to spark family discussions, fun gaming, and family hang-out sessions.

Living Room Arrangement

Think about how your living room is structured. Is your standard 3-cushion sofa facing the TV or is it facing the other seating? Is your sectional sofa the only seating in the room? Put some thought into the arrangement. Try to arrange your furniture to inspire conversation first and a good view of the TV second. For example, look at how the Traemore Living Room set is arranged in the display picture. Notice how the sofa faces the oversized chair and how every piece allows for multiple people to sit together. This is perfect for a family looking to reacquaint themselves.

Large sectional sofas like the Dellare Sectional with a Chaise naturally mimic this arrangement and they let an entire family effortlessly gather around the TV or table for a night spent together.

Try to choose an ottoman or coffee table for the center that will allow for board game nights! Choose a large surface area that can hold a board or game pieces securely, and don’t forget about video game night. On most gaming consoles, families can play together, so choose an entertainment center that houses your games and movies without sacrificing style.

Dining Room

If it’s hard to get your family together in the living room for hours at a time, consider the dining room. Everyone has to eat, right? Choose a table that seats all of your family members comfortably, without having to drag out an extra stool.

For larger families, go with something like the Madison County Set. It seats 6 and has storage underneath for game night. Smaller families may appreciate the intimacy and versatility of a round table and families with small children could really benefit from bench seating. That way the little ones can all pile on together!

Game Room

Not all homeowners are lucky enough to have an extra room dedicated to games, but if you are, it’s perfect for family time! The best bet in this room is a sectional sofa for seating and a pub style dining room set for eating and board games. Keep the atmosphere more casual in the game room than in the rest of your home. Try to have multiple pillows or ottomans for more seating and arrange the furniture so that the gaming surface is the center of attention. This should naturally place your family facing each other for fierce faceoffs!

Use the space you have to encourage your family to interact. Talk to one another, share a meal, and enjoy your time together.

Break out the scarves and pumpkin spice lattes, fall is here! Well, maybe it’s still a bit warm out, but you can still enjoy the coziness of the season by getting your living room in the mood. Dial up the warmth and coziness factor in your living room and spark some movie nights and conversation for those chilly evenings ahead.


Trade Tables for Ottomans
A soft, plush ottoman is a perfect way to make your living room feel cozy and warm. They’re great to rest your feet on, and with the addition of a tray, can serve perfectly as a coffee table as well. Ottomans can also serve as extra seating! Keep an eye out for one (or two, depending on the size of your room) with storage options.
You can also opt for an ottoman in a warmer color to help add a cozy touch to your space. Look to browns, reds, and oranges.


Sofa Tables
Sofa tables are versatile pieces of accent furniture. They can be pushed against a wall or against a sofa. They act as easy barriers to separate different areas of an open-concept living area or to separate seating arrangements. This really adds warmth in a large space or one with high ceilings. A simple wooden sofa table provides storage and helps create zones in a large space. Moving furniture away from the walls creates a much more intimate seating area, and a sofa table can help create the space.


Sectional Sofa
If you have a large space that feels a little cavernous, maybe a game room or a garage that has been converted to a living space, a sectional sofa can help bring the room together. Sectionals take up more space than a living room set and promote close seating that adds to the warm atmosphere. They feel less formal than a typical sofa and invite guests to stretch out!


Add Throw Pillows and Blankets
A throw blanket here and there adds texture, color, and yes, warmth. Having a blanket or pillow nearby instantly makes your guests feel more at home. Added bonus: you can curl up on a chilly evening. Plus, the pillows and blankets can serve as pops of warm color and can easily be changed out or stowed away when the cooler weather is gone. Choose fall colors to really create a festive and charming atmosphere.


Create Groupings
If you have an open concept home or a home that is separated by archways, consider multiple seating areas. It could be as simple as a sofa and two accent chairs in one area, then a sofa, love seat and coffee table in another area. Use rugs and sofa tables to help designate the zones. One area could have the TV as the focus and the other could be a center for conversation.

Creating groupings of furniture is more cost effective than you think. This could be as easy as adding two accent chairs to a living room set. Use the sofa and the two accent chairs in one area, and the love seat and oversized chair in another.

You can also add a few touches here and there like tall potted plants, fall foliage in vases, and warm lighting to make your space more inviting.

• The Space

  Choose a space that gives you plenty of room to spread out. Maybe the other side of your home office? Or the spare bedroom? It’s easy to create a multi-use room if you have the right pieces of furniture. If you have a spare bedroom, consider adding a daybed to make the room appear more multi-functional without crowding floor space. Bedrooms are ideal for craft rooms because they come with closets for extra storage!

• Reimagine

  The key to choosing the right furniture pieces for your crafting space is to reimagine their use. Don’t go for plastic tables with flimsy bins. Choose sturdy furniture that will help your crafting space blend in with the rest of your home. Just because the Amarillo Door Chest is “meant” for the bedroom doesn’t mean it can’t store crafts! Choosing bedroom furniture is ideal because your craft room will most likely have to serve as a guestroom from time to time. Making smart choices will make your overnight guest feel more at home.

• The Table

  Don’t just look to work benches; your crafting space should have a nice, sturdy table with lots of storage. It should also be taller than the average table. If you are sharing your crafting space with another room, it doesn’t hurt to have a table that looks great as well. Here’s a tip: try dining room tables such as the Messina Pub Table. It’s tall, stylish, and has lots of storage. It won’t scream “crafts” like a table with plastic storage drawers. It’s perfect for a multi-use space!

• The Storage

  It’s perfectly fine to head over to the dollar store and buy plastic bins to store your crafts. They are cheap, functional, and will not break the bank. But where will you store those plastic bins? How will you organize the chaos? That’s where high-quality shelving comes in. While the bins themselves can be on the cheaper side, you should splurge on sturdy shelves to manage your storage.

  The Scrimshaw Accent Cabinet is great for hiding away unsightly plastic bins. It will help keep your craft space neat and tidy while keeping your bins at arm’s reach. Dresser or Chest of Drawers is great for smaller items like beads and fabric scraps.

Plus, these items look great in a guest bedroom! When your crafting space must serve another function, these items will look uncluttered and clean.

• In the Kitchen

  Don’t let mail and small appliances take up space on your counters. Look to storage pieces that can put your clutter neatly out of sight. The Madison County Dining Room Server would look great tucked away along your kitchen wall. Furniture pieces like this have drawers for documents and cabinets for larger appliances. No need to keep your pressure cooker on the counter when it can be neatly tucked away.

• In the Living Room

  Toys, blankets, books, and more can easily pile up on sofas and side tables. Look to multifunctional furniture to help you organize your living room. Not only do ottomans serve as a place to put your feet up and add extra seating, but some also act as storage, like the one by Bolton. These ottomans typically open from the top and offer ample place to store blankets, games, and toys.

  Coffee tables are also a great place to keep things out of the way. Some slide open while others offer cabinet-style doors. You may want one that actually lifts to reveal convenient storage. Side tables are also wonderful for hiding toys and books. The Ivy Chairside table offers a quaint drawer for your remote or phone chargers.

  Entertainment centers can be the ultimate stylish storage space. While many serve as the perfect place for your TV, other options offer a ton of extra space for all sorts of gadgets. The Vincente Entertainment Center has display shelves as well as barn-style doors to keep gaming consoles and DVDs out of sight.

• In the Bedroom

  Clothes and shoes have a way of piling up in the bedroom. Kids’ bedrooms offer unique storage challenges with sports equipment and toys thrown into the mix. For an adult’s bedroom, look to dressers, chests and even TV stands to accommodate your needs. Make use of the many drawers and cabinets to keep clothes and shoes off the bed or floor.

  In kids’ rooms, try under-bed-storage -  These drawers make use of normally empty space. Bunk beds can also come with options like drawers in the staircase. Wardrobes are a nice solution for bulkier items like backpacks and sports equipment.

Make sure the pieces of furniture you choose are more than just “pretty.” Functional furniture should be stylish and useful. Keeping your house clutter-free is essential to a relaxing atmosphere.

• Play with Scale

  Try pairing large and oversized art with a table that fits the space. It always sets a chic tone. Investing in the perfect statement piece pulls together a dramatic entryway that leaves a lasting impression. The Midland Sofa Table would look great with an oversized painting hanging above it. The table is narrow and stylish and would allow the artwork to be the star of the entryway.

• Textures Count

  You can create an expectation of the décor to come with a mix of textures in the entryway. Consider a dramatic faux fur rug paired with an understated table. If your rug makes enough of a statement, consider a smaller table or hooks to hang coats.

• A Sitting Place

  Not all entryways have to feature a table. Many can accommodate a quaint place to sit. A small accent chair with a chic round table looks welcoming and functional. Add a lamp and a small picture frame or two, and it can also serve as a nice reading area to watch the world go by from your front door.

• Functional

  The perfect entryway isn’t just a place to “walk in”. It’s also a place to store coats, shoes, umbrellas and more. It can be a mudroom as well as a beautiful glimpse into your home. The Kennedy Storage Bench is the perfect piece for any entryway. Pair it with a wall of paintings or family pictures for a cozy feel, or you can opt for something like the Nero Hall Tree. It features hooks for coats, a drawer or keys and mail, and shelves for shoes. It’s also minimal enough to accommodate a small accent chair and statement rug.

• A Long Walk

  If you have a spacious entryway, consider a full treatment of design. Go bold with your lighting, make your art pop, and add multiple pieces of furniture. A large entryway can shine with a seating area for two using understated accent chairs and a small table. Think about topping off the look with a bench. If the space you are working with seems oversized, make sure you make it feel cozy with lamps, rugs, and personal touches.

Consider the rest of your home when decorating your entryway. If your home is more traditional, stick to that theme. Don’t have a contemporary entryway flowing into a traditional living room. It’s all about setting the tone of your home for your guests.

It may take a bit of creativity, but you can make your small room feel spacious and cozy. Just look for furniture pieces with a minimal footprint and maximum potential!